Improvement in wood-screw machines



4 Sheets-Sheet l.

C. ELLQUTT. Wood-Screw Machine.

Patented May11,1875.

THE GRAPHIC COPHDTOrLITMAQM PMK FWF-.PLY-

4 Sheets--Sheet 2.

c. ELLIOTT.- wood-Screw Machine.

. Pat'ented May 1l, 1875.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0LITM.39&4'I PARK PLACLNX.

' 4Sheets--Sheet3.

C. ELLIOTT. f

- woud-Screw Machine.I

N0. 163,059; Patented May11,875.

: A N/entor:

-on the cross-head.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GALEB ELLIOTT, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD-SCREW MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,059, dated May 11, i875; applicationliled September 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB ELLIOTT, of Richmond, county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented. certain Improvements in Machines for Threading' Wood-Screws, of which the following is a specification:

` My invention relates to machines for threading wood-screws, wherein the cutting of the thread is done by means of mills or rotary cutters instead of pointed tools, as heretofore used, the threading being completed by going over the blank once, instead of many times, as in all other screw-threading machines now in use. The coil of wire, from which the screws are to be made, is placed upon a reel and fed into the machine automatically, as hereinafter described.

Figure lis a plan or top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is aside elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the main mandrel, showing the attachment of the rotary cutters or mills and the dies, which finish the thread of the screw. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the main mandrel, showing the mechanism by which the dies are closed upon the blank. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the dies and block, to which they are attached. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the driving-gears. Fig. 7 shows the mechanism, by which the cut-oft' cam is actuated. Fig. Sis an elevation of the cross-head and clamp which straightens, brings forward, and holds the wire while the blank is being threaded, with the levers attached for clamping and cutting off the screw when completed. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism which moves the cross-head back and forth. Fig. l0 is a side elevation, showing the mechanism which operates the sleeve on the main mandrel, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4. Fig. 1l is an elevation of the front end of the machine, showing the crosshead and the manner of clamping and releasing the wire; also showing the cam which actuates the cut-off levers. Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the worm-wheel shaft, showing the mechanism which operates the clamp Fig. 13 is an inside view ofthe back clamp, which holds the wire while the cross-headpasses over it in taking a new blank. Fig. 14 shows the mechanism which operates the back clamp.

A is the main mandrel; B, the worm-shaft; C, the worm 5 D, the worm-wheel; E, the wormwheel shaft, and F the frame of the machine. G is the cross-head, H, the back clamp, which clamps and holds the wire while the crosshead passes over it in taking a new blank, and I is the clamp attached to the cross-bead, and moving with it, which straightens the wire and holds it while it is being threaded. J is the mills or rotary cutters, one or more of which may be used 5 but I prefer two placed together on the same mandrel, making the space between them the proper shape to form the thread, and K is the dies which follow in the track of the mills to smooth the thread and support the wire while it is being operated upon by them.

L, Fig. 5, is a block placed in the front end of the main mandrel, having a hole in its center, into which the blank passes to steady it while being threaded, the dies K being also pivotcd to this block. M is an arm., attached to the front end of the main mandrel by means of a set-screw, which carries the gears O and P, the pinion P meshing into the circular cog-rack N, which is firmly attached to the head-stock Q of the machine, and communicates motion to the mills J, through the pinion P, gear O, and pinion R attached to the rear end of the mill-mandrel S. The bearing V of the mill-mandrel S, Fig. 3, is firmly attached to the jaw-lever T, which vibrates on the pint. When the blank W, firmly heldvto the cross-head ,G by the clamp I, is introduced` into the block L for the purpose of being threaded, the sleeve C?, connected with the plunger` A2 by the cross-bar D2, passing through a slot in the main mandrel, all actuated by mechanism hereinafter described, moves forward, bringing the leaf E2 of the plunger in contact with the iirst incline on the under side of the rear end of the jawlever T, closing the mills upon it. The plunger A2 consists of two sections or leaves, the under one of which, Fig. 3, is rigidly attached to the cross-bar D2, while the upper one Ez is pivoted to it, in order to admit of adjustment by means of the set-screw F2.

leaf is made wedge shape at the end to actuate the die-levers, as shown in Fig. 4, while thev upper one is simply beveled on top to meet The under` the two inclines on the under sideof the jawlever T.

Fig. 5 represents the manner of pivoting the dies K to the block L, together with the springs B2, for the purpose of opening them when the plunger is withdrawn. The backward and forward movements of the crosshead G are communicated to it through the rigid connection G2, Figs. 2 and 9, by means of cams H2 and I2, operating against adjustable pawls L2"`and M2, secured to opposite sides of the slide-head N2, which fits closely between said cams, the slot O2 in the slide-head also Vfittiiig nclosely *toY Yth ef'vrmwheel shaft.

The cam H2, starting with the pawl L2 at the point nearest its center, gives the pitch to the thread of the screw, by moving the crosshead, together with the blank, backward at the proper speed to give the pitch required. Upon the completion of the threading, the back-clamp H closes upon the wire, and at the same instant the clamp I releases it, when the cushioned spring Q2,vof the leaf K2, of the cam I2, comes in contact with the pawl M2, drawing the cross-head G' forward over the wire (for the purpose of cutting the screw the proper length) and the pawl L2 into the recess or dead space P2 in the cam H2, when the screw is cut from the wire. The pawl L2, in traversing the space from the point X2 to the Y point X3 on the cam H2, moves the cross-head back over the wire to procure a new blank, when the clamps H2 and I2, having reversed their relation to the wire, the leaf J2 of the cam I2 comes in contact with the pawl M2, and brings the blank forward to be threaded, the spring B2, having sufficient tension to keep the pawl L2 against the face of the cam H2.

The circular plate U, Figs. l0 and l2, provided with cams W2, V2, and Y, operating on the pawl X4, secured to the side of the slidehead T2, moves the sleeve G2 forward by means of the connection S2 and adjustable yoke Y2, forcing the mills and dies into position for threading. The projection X1 of the platewheel X, shown in dotted lines,.and working on the opposite side of the slide-head T2 from the circular plate U, comes in contact with the lug V1, and, moving the sleeve C2 back, withdraws the plunger A2 from contact with the jaw-lever T and dies K after the operation of threading the screw has been completed, when the springs B2 and Z throw the dies and mills open, ready to receive a new blank. Immediately upon the introduction of the blank into the front end of the main mandrel the cam W2 of the circular plate U comes in contact with the pawl X4, moving the sleeve G2 and its attachments forward, closing the mills upon it. In the interval, while the pawl X4 is traversing the space from W2 to V2, the mills make about two circuits of the blank, when the cam V2 acts upon the pawl, closing the dies. While the pawl X4 is traversing the space from the cam V2 to the point V2 the screw is being threaded. Then the pawl comes in contact with the cam Y, which, moving the sleeve and plunger slowly forward, brings the leaf E2 ofthe plunger in contact with the second incline on the under side of the `jaw-lever T, gradually closing the mills onthe blank, forming a gimlet-point to the screw.

Fig. 8 represents the mechanism for cutting the completed screw from the wire. The clamplever A3 is pivoted to the cross-head G at B3, while the lever A4 is pivoted to the lever A3 at B, and they are held in position to admit of the blank passing freely between them at d by the springs a and b. The cam 135i Figs-.2.7-7, 8, will, hangs looselyouits, shaft B6, and is held out of the clutch B7 by the spring B2 until the blank is threaded, when the pin e on the plate X5, Fig. 7, which is secured to the worm-wheel shaft and rotates with it, Figs. 7 and 14, comes in contact with the upper arm of the lever f, throwing the cam into the clutch by means of the rod g, causing it to rotate and act upon the clamplever A4, closing the clamp on the screw at d, both levers then moving together on the fulcrum B3, severing the screw from the wire.

The clamp I is operated by means of the cam B2, Fig. Il, on the front end of the rod C3, Figs. l, ll., and 12, supported by a hanger, C, Figs. l and 2, the upper end of whichis firmly attached to the cross-head G, moving the rod longitudinally with the motion of the same. The rear end of the rod C3 passes directly under the worm-wheel shaft E, and is supported by a bearing in the frame F, as shown at U5, Fig. l2. When the threading of the screw is completed, the pin h in the circular plate U comes in contact with the upper side of the feather k, turning the cam E2 under the foot of the pendant-rod l, which is pivoted to the clamp I at m, lifting it from the wire, the backclamp H closing upon it atthe same time. The cross-head G having moved back over the wire to procure a new blank, the pin t' in the circular plate U comes in contact with the under side of the feather a, releasing the cam E3, when the spring V4 brings the clamp I down upon the wire. The back-clamp H, Figs. 13 and 14, is operated by means of the pin p on plate X5, through the crooked lever A5, which holds the clamp closed upon the wire while the pin p traverses the arc g, attached to the rear end ofthe lever.

A6, Figs. l and 2, is the driving-pulley. (Not shown in the rear elevation, Fig. 6.) The ends of the cross-head G are rabbeted, as shown at X6, Figs. 8 and Il, and held in place by the gibs X7, Figs. ll and 13.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the main mandrel A with the circular cog-rack N, pinion P, gear O, pinion It, and mills or rotary critters J, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the block L, the dies K, jaw-lever T, and mills or rotary cutters J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the sleeve G2 with the plunger A2, dies K, jaw-lever T, and mills or rotary cutters J, substantially as shown and described.

4. rlhe plunger A2, consisting of two sections or leaves, the upper one E2 being adjustable by means of the set-screwr F2, substantially as shown and described.

5. The c1amp-lever A3, pivoted to the cross head G, in combination with the clamp-lever A, pivoted to the lever A3 at B, substantially as shown and described.

6. The cam B5, in combination With the 1evers A3 and A4 and springs a and b, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of the camleai` J2 and spring R2, as and for the purpose set forth.

lclamp I, as and for the purpose described.

GALEB ELLIOTT. Witnesses:

J. M. BUTTON, WM. P. HUTToN. 

